Game-board



No. 6l3,550. Patented Nov. I, I898. G. N. BALLOU.

GAME BOARD.

Application filed Sept. 1, 1897. Renewed Sept. 3, 1 898.)

Witmeooeo NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE N. BALLOU, OF EUGENE, NORTH CAROLINA.

GAME-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,550, dated November1, 189$.

Application filed September 1, 1897. Renewed September 3, 1898. SerialNo. 690,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. BALLOU, residing at Eugene, in the countyof Ashe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and usefulGame-Board, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved game apparatus, and has for itsobject the provision of an arithmetical game which is simple but at thesame time puzzling and requiring some thought and calculation and'whichis both amusing and instructive.

My invention consists in a game-board having a checkered surface andprovided with a series of numerals in its center arranged so" as to formdiagonal rows reading in different directions and provided with ratioand proportion symbols between them; also in providing two series ofdisks or markers to be used in combination with the board and its spacesand numerals, whereby a result can be obtained to determine the progressof the game.

My invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of thedifferent parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference areused to indicate similar parts, Figure 1 isa perspective view showing myimproved game-board with the markers properly arranged thereon for thestarting of the game. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, the markersbeing removed therefrom.

In carrying out my invention I provide a game-board A, made of anysuitable material, the face or upper surface of which is provided withthe checkered spaces B O, the spaces B being of one color, while thosedesignated 0 are another.

WVhile I have shown in the drawings fourteen rows of spaces each way,making in all one hundred and ninety-six squares, it is not essential,as a larger or smaller number of spaces might be used.

In the central portion of the board I arrange a series of numeralsplaced on the spaces, as at D, all of one color and occupying four rows,said rows being centrally located with reference to each end of theboard,

so as to leave the same number-of blank rows and spaces for each playerat his end. The figures form diagonal rows of four numbers eachand canbe read in either direction. Between each of the numbers in thesediagonal rows are placed the symbols used in ratio and proportion, as atF, so that a row would read, for example, 4:6 :4:2, the purposeof whichwill be hereinafter described.

E designates the disks or markers which are to be manipulated by theplayers and consist of two sets of 21 each, each set being of adifferent color, so as to distinguish them from each other. Thesemarkers are to be placed at each end of the board, as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. Of course a difierent number of markers could be used, itnot being essential to have twenty-one, as this would be determined bythe number of spaces on the board.

The game is played as follows: Each player takes a set of markers, saytwenty-one each, and places them on the colored spaces at his end of theboard, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Either one of the players canmake the first move, and the said moves are to be made alternately. andon the same order as in checkers, the main object being to reach thediagonal rows in the central portion of the board, and after reachingone of said rows and successfully passing over it you are entitled toremove from your opponents markers a number equal to the product of saidrow. For example, suppose you have passed over the row reading 4:10::10z5. According to the rules of ratio and proportion the result of thiscalculation would be five. Therefore you would remove any five of youropponents men as you would see fit, and so on. By multiplying theextremes and the means and dividing the greater product by the less youobtain the required result and the number of markers which you areentitled to remove. No jumping is allowed, except when both players havemarkers in the figured squares, and no backward moves are allowed untilthe figured squares have been crossed and you enter the kingdom of youropponent. Your markers should then be crowned and you can move in eitherdirection.

My game will be called 5 ratio, and is very simple, but at the same timerequires thought and considerable calculation, as it is essential thatyour markers be directed to rows which will give you the highest result,and thereby entitle you to the highest number of your opponents markers.

This affords an amusing, interesting, and at the same timeveryinstructive game. The number or denomination of the figures is notlimited to those shown in the drawings, as a larger or smaller boardcould be used, which would necessitate a larger or smaller number offigures and markers.

Various slight changes might be made in the formation and arrangement ofthe spaces and numerals on the board Without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention. Hence I do not care to limit myself to theexact construction illustrated.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A game apparatus consisting of a board having checkered spaces on itssurface, a series of numbers arranged on the spaces of one color in thecentral rows of the board, and ratio-symbols arranged on theintervening, differently-colored spaces in said rows substantially asdescribed.

2. A game apparatus consisting of a board having checkered spaces on itssurface, a series of numerals arranged in diagonal rows in the center ofsaid board having ratio-symbols between them, in combination with thedisks or markers adapted to be manipulated substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus consisting of a board provided on its upper surfacewith checkered spaces, a series of numerals arranged in the center ofsaid board so as to form diagonal rows of four figures each,ratio-symbols interposed diagonally between each of the said numbers, incombination with the markers adapted to be manipulated by the opposingplayers, for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE N. BALLOU.

Vitnesses:

SIBBIE G. BROOKS, ELI FRANCIS.

